Gibbs says health-care will become law this week, but House Democrats still short of votes

Even as a House Democratic leader admitted that Democrats are still lacking votes, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs proclaimed Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation" that "this is the week" that the House will pass the Senate's health-care reform bill and send it to President Obama's desk for his signature. The House is expected to vote on the Senate bill late in the week.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) cautioned on NBC's "Meet the Press" that "as of this morning" House Democrats don't have the votes to pass the Senate bill, but he is "very confident that we will get this done."

Gibbs said the president is talking to Senate leaders to make sure the upper chamber will take up and pass a reconciliation bill to modify the Senate legislation in order to satisfy the concerns of Democratic House members. He also said the "special deals" that the president found objectionable, such as Nebraska's exemption from paying its share of the proposed Medicaid expansion that helped to secure Sen. Ben Nelson's (D-Neb.) earlier vote on the bill, "are indeed out of" the reconciliation bill.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), also appearing on "Face the Nation," called the Democratic plan to pass health-care reform through budget reconciliation "the most brazen act of political arrogance that I can remember since the Watergate era." He pledged that Republican senators will "certainly offer a large number of amendments" and "go sentence by sentence through this 3,000-page bill to make sure rules are followed" during the reconciliation process.

Earlier on "Fox News Sunday," Gibbs predicted that by this time next week the health-care bill will be "the law of the land," and he welcomed the prospect that the 2010 midterm elections would be a referendum on health-care reform. "We believe health-care reform is going to pass," Gibbs said. "Once it passes we're happy to have the 2010 election be about the achievement of health care-reform. That's obviously a debate we're comfortable having."

You're right... the profit margin is 3.4%. I was thinking of the median profit margin of all industries which is 2.2%. I apologize. My point remains the same though. For comparison's sake, the Food industry (major diversified) has a profit margin of 7.4%. We all need food to survive and it's a big part of everyone's budget, so should we let government take over that industry so it can regulate the amount of profit it makes? And the CEO compensation you mention is a drop in the bucket in overall cost.

You are closer to the mark when you bring up the pharmaceuticals (16.5% profit margin), but Obama is too busy making sweetheart deals with that industry to cast them as the villains.

My point isn't that we don't need reform. We do. But if you think removing the profit motive from these different health-related industries will improve health care in this country (and in the world), you are sorely mistaken. We do lag behind other industrialized nations in some areas of health care, but in others -- like cancer survival rates -- we excel. The only way to truly reduce costs without reducing quality of care is a market-based approach where the individual has the power to choose and the insurance companies compete against each other in a free, transparent, and open market controlled by some common sense regulations. The progressive ideal of universal coverage is laudable, and I believe that it should be our ultimate goal (without forcing people to buy it by threat of fines and/or jail, because yes, I do hold liberty as a laudable goal too), but to throw the baby out with the bathwater to have it TODAY, while decreasing quality of care and putting our nation on an unsustainable financial path is not the "common sense" approach we need. (And if you don't believe it won't put us on an unsustainable financial path, could you please explain to me how the cost of medicare was misjudged by a factor of 10 back in 1965, and what gives you the confidence that the govt isn't underestimating the true cost of obamacare today?)

Read up on the Weimar Republic (Germany) and Zimbabwe to see what happens to countries who print money with no assets behind their paper money. It is called hyperinflation and there is no escape for anyone rich or poor.

Consider the tax increases required to pay off the $80 trillion of unfunded liabilities for Social Security (which now spends more than it takes in), unfunded liabilities for Medicare as it exists today (which will flip in the all to near future like SS), unfunded liabilities for Veterans Benefits, the National Debt (bonds & notes), and US currency held abroad. Couple this with the projected deficit spending currently signed into law by BO, the proposed Obama Care and the increase in Debt servicing now 7% of our National Budget and projected to be 11% in 2 years. YOU GET $100 TRILLION!!!

Tell me who is going to pay for this:
• The big bad corporations? They just price taxes into the goods & services they sell otherwise they go broke – no profits, shareholders abandon ship. Is YOUR pension money in corp. stocks?
• The filthy rich? Forbes recent 400 richest (by assets) don’t hold $2 trillion. Confiscate it all and it won’t pay the interest & inflation on the US debt & unfunded liabilities for ONE year.

Only idiots and hard core communists do not think about this. Read what the Germans & Zimbabweans had to say about trying to survive.

Robert 'gag me' Gibbs is the worst White House Press Secretary I have seen in my 63 years. He can't get two words out of his mouth without a 'uh uh uh ...' His arrogance and condescending responses to the press only reflect Obama's disdain for them -- unless he needs them to spin his unwanted and harmful policies. And the White House Press -- how they love to spin, spin, spin for the Obama Team. My hope is that enough Democrats wake up and do the right thing and vote against this terrible bill. If they don't, the American people will throw them all 'under the bus' this next election! Then maybe Mr. Gibbs will keep his stupid mouth shut for awhile.

Robert Gibbs wears a " Cheer Leader " sweater rather than a " Varsity " sweater which is good for him . He's allowed to say " WE " at Obama " Pep Rallys " and even act as though he , himself is hunkered down on the one-yard line .

The only problem is that Gibbs doesn't have to deal with failure much farther than 2013 and can ( and will ) write a book about how stupid Congress and America was in this equation ( of course leaving himself out as " only an on-looker " ) .

...I GOT IT! Ever since this administration "took over" our government, I have been saying that Gibbs reminds me of someone else! I realized who it was when I saw him again cavorting for the networks.................Tickle Me, Elmo.

...I GOT IT! Ever since this administration "took over" our government, I have been saying that Gibbs reminds me of someone else! I realized who it was when I saw him again cavorting for the networks.................Tickle Me, Elmo.

"Social Security to Start Cashing Uncle Sam's IOUs
AP
This year, for the first time since the 1980s, when Congress last overhauled Social Security, the retirement program is projected to pay out more in benefits than it collects in taxes — nearly $29 billion more."

1. Raise taxes some more to cover this and there is less in the economy to spur employment.

Call your Congressional Representative and say NO to reconciliation on Obama Care which just piles trillions more on top of 1 or 2 above. Or ask your DOC what he thinks of Obama Care. Who do you trust more your DOC or Congress and BO??

Your statistic about a "2% profit margin" is both incorrect and misleading. First, it is actually a 3.4% profit margin, which is 50% above average for corporations in the US. Second, profit margin means little, as it ignores the amount of money that these companies spend on executive compensation, administrative expenses, and other costs not related to paying for medical care.

The more important number is the medical loss ratio, which is the percentage of the premiums that an insurance company spends on paying for medical care. That percentage has falled from more than 90% in 1992 to less than 80% today. This means that average Americans are getting less and less care for every dollar they spend on health insurance.

Last year, UnitedHealth Group had profits of $2.9 billion. Aetna and Cigna provided $38 million and $30 million, respectively, in compensation to their CEOs. Pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, hospitals, and other health industry companies made even more exorbinant profits.

My point is not to begrudge these folks for making money. But from a societal standpoint, we are paying far more for health care than any other industrialized country, while getting some of the worst outcomes. We can do better as a country, and that is why I support our President's common sense efforts to address this problem.

Sorry, I quoted only the hospital insurance portion of Medicare in my previous post. For the entire Medicare program, they estimated it would cost $12 billion in 1990. It ended up costing $110 billion. Almost ten times more expensive.

ShannoF: "It is important to understand, however, that it is the health insurance industry, that is causing the massive increase in your premiums."

The profit margins for these health insurance companies are tiny. Around 2%. How can you say this with a straight face? I know Obama and the Dems like to demonize the insurers to try to gain support for their, according to you, "common sense" 2700 page debacle of a bill, but anyone looking at this objectively knows that there are much more deep rooted issues causing rising costs in our health care system than just greedy executives trying to make a profit.

I was covered once by BC/BS through employer provided insurance. The surgeon's fee for an appendectomy was $750 and the cost of a hospital room was $1 per hour. Then Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law. The projected ten year cost was $7 billion. In fact, it cost $77 billion. Johnson interposed the government's (read taxpayers') pocketbook between the patient and the provider. A terrible mistake.

If you think medical care needs reformation, you are correct. But you are mistaken if you believe that this bill will do it and save the money claimed. There has been NO government projection on ANY legislation that has ever been accurate. We cannot afford this bill and we should start over.

If you obamacare fans out there seriously believe that this monstrosity of a bill will save us money, you are insane. Insane or ideologically blind. The Dems cynically formulated this bill so that there are four years of taxation before expenditures kick in, so that the CBO could score this bill as a net saver over the first ten years.

In 1965 when the Dems were trying to pass Medicare, they estimated that in 1990 the program would cost $9 billion a year. Actual cost in 1990? $67 billion!! Look it up if you don't believe me.

Bush steered this country toward a cliff and Obama took the wheel and stepped on the gas. This needs to stop. This bill needs to die. And we need to put adults into office this November.

I am not a paid poster - it is the industry, not the reform advocates, that hire such folks. Like you, I am middle class, I work for a non-profit, and I have health insurance (United HealthCare).

I feel for your economic struggles. It is important to understand, however, that it is the health insurance industry, that is causing the massive increase in your premiums. There is nothing in our President's health care reform proposal that imposes new costs on middle class folks like us. Instead, the bill ends absuive industry practices, allows folks to keep their own insurance or to buy insurance on a national exchange that will protect consumers and require true competition, and provides folks with insurance the security of knowing that they cannot be suddenly cut off when they get sick. If you cannot afford health insurance, the plan provides subsidies to middle and working class families making less than $88,000 per year. It is paid for through a small tax on families making more than $250,000 per year or who have health insurance policies worth more than $23,000 per year, and by instituting common sense cost saving measure that will curb inefficiencies in the system.

It is interesting to note that all of the concerns you raise - skyrocketing premiums, denial of coverage, and your money going to enrich other folks - are primary characteristics of our current, broken health insurance system. President Obama's plan is a giant first step in addressing these issues and will finally begin to provide middle class folks like us with security to know that we will have more affordable health insurance that will cover us if we get sick rather than leaving us at the mercy of the insurance companies.

We share the same concerns about making sure that our families are covered affordably. I urge you to take a second look at President Obama plan, which will address those concerns in a common sense way.

Clinton was the most rightwing Democratic President since at least Grover Cleveland, maybe since Franklin Pierce.

In 1995, Clinton said to the nation, "The era of big gummint is over!" In 1996, he signed the most rightwing reform of welfare ever -- a reform the Leftwingnuts said would destroy America. Clinton surrendered to Gingrich's demand for a balanced budget.

If Obama does all that, then yeah, he can get re-elected (well, at least if the GOP runs McCain again). Frankly, I doubt that you Democrats will re-nominate him.

Are there any supporters of the Senate Health Care Reform bill out there that can explain how this bill is really deficit neutral if the $250B medicare/medicade doctor fix was taken out and left unfunded? Also, what is going to happen to all the medicare patients when more doctors turn down medicare after $500B is taken from the already-foundering program?

I'd love to get some real health care reform passed but am not sure the the insurance companies are the real problem. If they were, they'd have a lot higher profit margins. Just check any of them out on Schwab or TD Ameritrade's investing research pages.

When the senate passed their bill their members had no time to even read it (remember when Dick Durbin admitted on the floor two days before the vote that he didn't know what was in the bill?). Then they voted and broke for the holidays. Nice.

And now it's the house's turn to try this strategy. Obama sets a deadline that would have been four days from today - and there is no bill yet!!! There's no CBO score yet or anything. Right now when someone points out negatives they can hide behind the old "Oh that's the senate bill, we're making fixes to that." When they reveal the bill it will be...hurry up!!!! Vote!!! We have a deadline!!!! The real hurry is they don't want everyone to know what's in it - 10 new federal taxes, etc. - because they can't hide behind the fixes anymore. And they don't want people finding more of these accounting tricks that have somehow convinced 40% of the country that you can insure 30 million people and save money.

Barrak Obama has more courage, energy, intelligence and integrity in his little finger than the Republican Party has in their entire collective bodies. I've read your ridiculous, racist nonsense for a year now, and it will be a pleasure to see you proven wrong once this bill passes. The country won't go Commie. It won't go broke. The USA will be a better country, whether you Glenn Beck lovers like it or not. And when your pathetic excuse for a party is forced to run someone with NO IDEAS against Obama in 2012, he will kick their a$$ all over the country. Get ready for Clinton/Dole in 2012, Goobers!

Oh, this is the week all right, Gibbs. This is the week when Democratic members of Congress find out just what the American people are going to do to them if they vote for this so-called healthcare legislation. Lawyers in most of the states are lining up to bring charges against them. We never know what the final ruling will be, of course, but we do know that for several years they'll all be miserable and eventually broke! We're not putting up with this nonsense any longer!!! TO THE GALLOWS!

Just read in the Wall St Journal about a new poll done in the districts of the 35 key house members, and it is ugly for them if they vote for this bill. Over 70% and in some districts over 80% are against the insurance mandate, cuts to medicare, etc. - across party lines. 60% in those districts will vote for a candidate who opposes this bill. The numbers in the key districts are much worse than the national numbers. It would seem any house member in these districts is done in November if they vote for this bill.

When the bill passes and everyone sees that all the scare tactics republicons have been trotting out are nothing but bald faced lies, and when Dodd passes serious and meaningful financial reform by late Spring the mid terms will be a sweep for Democrats. And THAT is why the republicons are so filled with fury and rage. They are more than willing to let bankers run amok and let your children die if it means they can continue lying in the vain hope of gaining a few congressional seats.

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Can't wait until Obama gets this thing done so all Idiot Goobers, Right Wing Jerks and Teabaggers can all go to HELL!!!
Get ready, Goobers, 'cause we're ramming a BIG ONE RIGHT DOWN YER THROAT!!
And all you can do is suck on it...
Then again, if ONE of you Limbaugh parroting fools had ONE DECENT IDEA about how to better the country, maybe someone would take your pathetic excuse for a party seriously!

This so called health care bill by Democrats is a give away to the Big pharma, Big insurance, and the Rich; proving yet again that just like Republican lunatics most Dems are agents of Big corporations (Big Pharma, Big insurance, etc.) too.

Kill this bill and make the next election to be a referendum about Universal Nationalized Single Payer Health Care as they have in ALL European countries, Canada, Israel, etc. vs the for profit health insurance we have in US.

Let the Republican lunatics and the Republican Dems (i.e., Liberman, Nelson, etc.) run against Universal Nationalized Health Care and prove what lunatics they are, what enemy of the American (middle class) they are, given the FACT that under Universal Nationalized Single Payer Health Care every one wins except those who are getting paid $40Mill per year in salaries and flying in $50Mill corporate Jets and who are funding lying slime bags like Limbaugh, Beck, Fix news, Wall Street Journal, etc. to LIE and LIE to American people.

"The health care reform bill will provide health insurance for millions of Americans, and better and less costly health insurance for millions more.

Posted by: dudh"

This post reminds me of a time many years ago when I was invited to a presentation by an AMWAY representative, I was told that all I had to do was sell a hundred dollars worth of products per Month and every one in the organization would get checks for thousands of Dollars per Month. Nobody at the meeting could tell me where the extra Thousands above my 100 Dollars of sales would come from, Sounds like the same Piramid scheme rebilled as Obamma care.

Thank you, Virginia, for saying that if you read it in the Washington Post, it is true. Your friends are wrong. If Health Care passes and someone can't afford health insurance, they are fined. And, when they can't pay the fine, they are taken to jail.
Yes, Virginia, you can tell your little friends that if the Health Bill passes and if their daddies lose their jobs, they will probably go to jail.

It is amazing how many children there are in our country. The healthcare reform bill is designed to "HELP" Americans with heath-care and those without! It is not a communist plot nor a government takeover of healthcare. It's the first step toward making us a healthier nation that will not go broke with paying insurance companies! Tort reform, another word for letting healthcare providers off the hook? Thats Pro Doctor and Anti patient!
I have read so many childish posts its shameful but like it or not, it's way overdue for our country (ranked 37th in heath-care quality) to get going on reform for a healthier thinner America...not stop whining put the ice cream down and take your medications!

Senator Alexander may wat to go over the 2000 page health reform legislation line by line but he would be wasting his time because that will already have been passed by the senate and the house and signed by the president. It will already be law. What will be discussed are the changes to that bill. It will be much shorter. Alexander needs to get up to speed before he opens his mouth. He is so used to opposing everything he forgot what he was opposing this time.

Let me get this straight...we are going to have a vote on something that isn't even written yet...not available for anyone to read anywhwere..and whose basic ideas as expressed in the Congressional and Senate bills are opposed by 70% of the American people..

and this is a good idea because...why?

I can't wait for the grownups to come back.

Never forget, we are a constitutional republic, with protected individual rights, not a democracy, for a good reason..in a democracy the lions can outvote the sheep on the dinner plans.

"Go ahead," speaker Lucy implored. "Go ahead, and kick the ball. This time I promise, it will split the uprights, steady and true."
"Gee, I dunno," said Charlie Brown. "We've been through this before."

How Funny, yep you betcha Robert Gibbs,is
surely the Obama's Baghdad Bob and like his
Master Dictator Barack Hussein Obama just
as Delusional,Out Of Touch With Reality
and as Big A Liar As Barack Hussein Obama!

White House press secretary proclaims health-care reform will become "the law of the land."

A better Headline would read...........

"If the Healthcare Bill does not pass this week, Barry and I and the Executive Branch and the Members of Congress that pushed this will resign for having wasted a year of the Taxpayers Time and Money !!!"

The House of Representin' just added 7 BILLION DOLLARS of "Student Aid" to the "Health Care Reform Act." It also imposes a quota system based upon race.

In addition, all of us who conduct transactions with PayPal or like companies, will be receiving a 1099-K for selling stuff out of our garages and in the transactions are handled by PayPal.

Thank you Dummycrats. Now take your bill and shove it.

We'll be pulliung the handle on the likes of Gerry Connolly, who is too fat, lazy and dumb to meet with his constituency, but prefers to do teleconferences instead.

Gerry, we, your constituency pays your salary and we expect you to get off your duff and come out to do town halls, not hide-out in your Bat-Cave. Come next January, you and the rest of your ilk can draw that 109 weeks of unemployment compensation!!!

Let the wingnuts wet their diapers and cry, this is a really good move for America. 45,000 people die a year due to inadequate or no health care. We rank 37th in the world, and we have the second highest infant mortality rate.

Wingnuts, you had your own way for eight years, and you caused the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression. You lied us into a war, and put it on a Chinese credit card, along with the war in Afghanistan.

Hey winguts, if you got time to lean, you got time to clean. Grab a mop and help Obama and the adults clean up your mess, or stand aside and shut your whining little yappers.

If the Senate wishes to manipulate the insurance market on abortion by setting arbitrary price floors that make its coverage too profitable for insurers to deny, then it's only right that pro-lifers should start a non-profit to shift tax payer dollars to assist insurance subscribers to afford the more costly non-abortion plans.

ShannoF:
I am a teacher.
I am middle class.
I have BCBS.
We have been told that our out of pocket costs will triple in the first year.
That effectively means that thanks to an economy where my husband struggles daily to make sales in industry we will end up paying for your benefits. I hope you enjoy them because once we go belly up economically,who will you and those like you turn to for the money to run this program?

I have read extensively on this issue and frankly, I am of the opinion you are a paid poster-as so many of the duplicate posts on many sites are.

The more Gibbs and his Minister of Propaganda Axelrod talk about how this is going to pass soon, the more you know that there's no way it's going to pass. Whenever they don't have the votes they always resort to this nonsense and it never works. If this doesn't pass this week it's pretty much over, and it doesn't look like it's passing this week.
================================
Well yes, and no. You see the bill will pass, only not by conventional means.
The Slaughter Rule will be invoked, and Slaughter will ensue.

if this bill passes this week just watch the health insurance stocks immediately go up.
Even though the premiums will rise for those of us in the middle class,at least for a short time, the majority will want "regular" health insurance, not the spoon-fed gov't brand.
Because of the mandates the insurance companies win.

Even if we choose to pay higher premiums to try to get the same health care, it's not going to happen. Hello Big Government.

I have been checking Obama's well-documented statements -- he has contradicted himself and lied repeatedly. If this passes, our choices will be limited - to none.

To quote Lindsay Graham today (and he' not one of my favorites, but he's right) "this thing is crap."

What a guy that Obama is --- and the illegals are next in line for freebies -- he'll be buying Gutierrez's vote with the "immigration reform" next, aka: Amnesty.

Only a truly delusional person would believe this bill will lower the deficit. Nobody who really looks at the numbers could believe that. Even the CBO knows the numbers have all been fudged because they're the ones who fudged them.

Medicare wound up costing 10 times what it was supposed to, and you can pretty much guarantee this bill will do the same thing. And, unfortunately it also won't do anything to solve our problems. Obama has already raised the deficit by more in one year than Bush did in eight years. I can hardly wait to see how high Bambi can run the deficit up before we show him the door.

The more Gibbs and his Minister of Propaganda Axelrod talk about how this is going to pass soon, the more you know that there's no way it's going to pass. Whenever they don't have the votes they always resort to this nonsense and it never works. If this doesn't pass this week it's pretty much over, and it doesn't look like it's passing this week.

Imarkex, what's this about suing so that the government doesn't spend money on things I oppose? When did that happen?

I never wanted my money going to pay for Bush's wars. Or to give money to the Bush cronies.

A bill that cuts the deficit and adds 31 million fellow American citizens...only a Republican could oppose that. Republicans would prefer legislation that would add to the deficit, presumably, or cuts coverage for people below the magic 250K level.

Your response is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of what is in the health care reform legislation. The only costs that are imposed in the first three years are a small tax increase on people making over $250,000 per year or on health insurance plans costing more than $23,000 per year. The vast majority of Americans do not fall into these categories. I don't either, but even if I did it would be worth it to fix our broken health insurance system, curb abusive industry practices starting in 2010, cover 31 million Americans without health insurance starting in 2013, and begin to bring costs under control.

As for your claims about triaging care due to the decisions of a committee, that describes the system we already have. Health insurance companies already deny coverage of specific procedures, or even end coverage altogether for people who become sick, because if they paid for coverage it would cut into their profits. Our President's health care reform bill would end these abusive practices and seek to take steps to provide the most effective care possible and the best price.

No system is perfect, but the President's proposal would vastly improve today's system, which gets the worst results at the highest cost in the world and leads to the death of 30,000 Americans per year who lack health insurance. I believe that we can and must do better, and I applaud our President and the Democrats for working to make sure we do.

Apostasy:
"Everything the GOP said they wanted is in the bill. Tort Reform is in the bill. Pooling insured for cheaper prices is in the bill. Buying insurance across state lines is in the bill. "

That's simply NOT TRUE.The president told the AMA that he would not permit tort reform. So who's the liar-him or you? Likewise, the entire Congress said that they could not do cross border insurance because of the different requirements placed on insurance companies by the states. There would have to be a national code created. As for lower costs, get a clue. What is now under private enterprise and held down in cost by competition will end up a single ended creature of government where it has already been documented that workers get twice as much for comparable work. In what solar system does that come down as lower prices? In short, you are just spouting the soundbites sent to you and frankly, Soros is going to run out of money at some point so you had better find something that you can do to earn money in this country with your skill set because frankly, most of those jobs are heading overseas.

Insurance companies have compiled some of the most accurate statistics regarding the chance of disease and death in human populations. They have gathered the data that enables them to know that x percent of the population will develop cancers, heart disease, etc. etc. etc. and at what range of ages these diseases will occur.

With this information and knowing the current costs involved in treating these maladies and projecting future inflated costs they set their rates.

Unlike our government run healthcare services, the private insurance sector must guarantee that the funds are available when one of their policy holders has a need for health services. As such they are required by a myriad of laws (of course their will be laws to insure that private funds are available while there are no such laws for government programs) to have a given percentage of policy dollars on the ready and are limited to very conservative investments with the remaining funds.

In short, in the private sector the funds are there for healthcare when needed. Do private insurance companies automatically approve every single request? Hell no for if they did they would shortly go broke. There must be oversight in the process or costs would be even higher.

Those thinking that government run healthcare will provide every procedure for every citizen are crazy. It is a fact that current procedures under medicare are turned down much more often than those covered by private insurance. Why woukd you think that trend would not continue under additional government sponsored care?

As for the "greedy" insurance companies, last year in the aggregate, they had a three percent return on profits for their efforts. I can assure you that should a bank offer me 3% return for deposited savings I would yank my account in a heartbeat.

The "something for nothing" crowd are clearly a bunch of idiots who have never bothered to run the numbers. They are too deafened by the chant of, "Life isn't fair." Well guess what? Life isn't fair.

There is no government "magic fairy" solution for healthcare. People used to die in their mid 50's. That is the only way FDR was able to sell social security. People paid into it but most died before they could ever collect. People are now living 20 years longer than in FDR's time. Extended life spans mean we will pay increasingly more for healthcare. Because unlike the old days when good genes allowed some to live long lives, our current longer lives are paid for with a multitude of procedures...and those cost money. Lots of money.

ShannoF
"As the spouse of a thyroid cancer patient who lacked health insurance when she was diagnosed, I was overjoyed to hear Press Secretary Gibbs say that health care reform would finally pass this week!"

But did you realize that you will pay into the system via payroll deduction for over three years before anything is in place? How are you going to cope when you have less take home pay, but still have to find a way to pay the bills for three years? Are you going to be happy that unions were exempted so that your family's care was delayed? Are you going to appreciate a system that will triage your care and delay actions viewed by a committee as unnecessary without any recourse? That is the reality. While it may seem like a relief, it will only be so for a very short time. There are no miracles here.

UNIONS and WELFARE TRASH SMELLY SCUM are the winners in this bill. There is also a section that YOUR bank accounts belong to OVOMIT! You can't expect Holder to do anything he is the most corrupt attorney general that ever lived....he is used to bribery and criminal activity....hand in hand with OVOMIT the scumbag.

Current Health Care insurance cost $1200 per month per person with a $5000 to $8000 co-pay per year. That is over $22,000 per year in payments to before the Insurance Co. will pay a penny..

That is a full years of pay for the normal person.

Where did you get these numbers? I ask because all three of my adult children are going it alone for insurance. My daughter, who has a couple of chronic conditions pays $127 a month to BCBS. Likewise my sons pay around $90. Granted, they are young and the policies are really catastrophic care. But they get regular check ups and pharmacy services. My own policy through my school district which covers my husband and I costs $347 a month. If you are willing to get off of your duff and look around there are options. However when you have states that require every one of a plethora of contingencies be covered, cost is going to go up. Look at states with high insurance such as California and New York and you will find the state requires everything from stubbed toes to AIDS to mental health to be covered. If you want a Cadillac, don't complain about the mileage you get. Of course, Republicans want cross state coverage or tort reform or any of multiple posted options that the Democrats won't consider. So do your homework and double check the facts because the Left has been throwing out a bunch of soundbites that do not add up.

As the spouse of a thyroid cancer patient who lacked health insurance when she was diagnosed, I was overjoyed to hear Press Secretary Gibbs say that health care reform would finally pass this week! This legislation will finally stop health insurance companies from being able to deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions and from ending coverage after someone gets sick, will take steps to begin to rein in health care costs that are bankrupting our country, will extend health insurance coverage to 31 million Americans, and will provide security to tens of millions more who are in fear of losing their coverage. I strongly urge the Democrats (and any Republicans who want to help reform our broken health insurance system) to finish the job and get this bill passed and signed by our President.

Remember America, YOU don;t know waht's good for you. Obama, from the most politically corrupt city in the U.S., Nancy Pelois, from a State that is so broke no one reading this post wil live long enough to undo the damage this woman and her friends - Feinstein, Boxer, Harmon and Waxman - have done to the former Golden State. And Nancy's senile, old, socialist side-kick, Harry Reid, from a State where 81% of the homeowners owe more on there homes than they are worth know what's good for you. Can you believe ANYONE refers to these idiots as "leaders". Obama continues to ignore the American people and listen to his socialist buddies while NOTHING happens in the real world. Welcome to America, home of the free loader and the flat broke government that continues to invests in the America's illegal immigrants and losers!! Hey, anything for a vote and smoke right Barry, Harry and Nancy? What a joke!

Real Texan 1: Due to comments and thinking like yours, I would like the US to be 49 states again. We should give Texas back to Mexico, if they will take it.

I would miss Dell Computer and Larry McMurtry, the rest of you whackos please take a long swim in the Rio Grande. You killed JFK and took us to war in the middle east, and stole all our gold for Cheney. Texas is a big load of guns nuts, insects, tax evaders, lizards, braggers and liars. Houston, you got a problem.

I watched Gibbs interview this morning and this is what I saw: Everytime he was about to tell a blatant lie he started with "look!"...... The little lies and misrepresentations were accompanied by his "lying politicain fist". You know the one where he curls his index finger around his thumb. Body language sometimes speaks louder than the words used...Reminds of what was said about Jimma Carter...."Carter won't lie to you, but Jody Powell will" meaning that when he lacked to guts to lie to us directly, Powell did for him. Gibbs is Obama's Jody powell...

When I was young and foolish I had an in ground pool put in...I never sat down and really thought about it I just did it, I figured out real fast what a stupid thing I did the upkeep was very expensive living in the north east it was used very little and every time I wrote out a check for that pool I fumed and fumed...so when you are getting the bill monthly or weekly how ever we the people have to pay for this crap you will just love those dems for years and years and years and years...
------------------------------------------
You sound like one of those go it aloners. A friend of mine once told me he really enjoys inviting people over for swim parties especially my beautiful swim suited wife.

Suprem Pres Czar Gibbs IS right about one thing--this is the critical week for ObamaCare

and time to drive a stake through the evil heart of obamacare

Consider what faced the Republicans in 2009. Obama had a filibuster proof majority in the Senate, and a rubber stamp House.

Obamacare, and its mandatory abortion coverage in the Senate seemed destined to pass.

But then confusion reigned among Team Obama as the Dems turned their swords on each other. Dem Senators demanded more and more landrieu from Reid and Obama. Obama had the toughest, indeed the only negotiations, within the Dem party dragging the process out.

The closer obama got to mandatory abortion coverage the more the DEMS slowed the process.

Meanwhile the normally fractious Republicans stood united. These united Alamo Republicans lost the Senate Battle but ultimately won the obamacare war, much like the fighters at the Alamo.

The president and Congress are focused on ramming through their health-care bill, whatever it takes, whatever the cost.

When the people of my state elected me in January, they sent more than a senator to Washington, they sent a message. Across party lines, the voters told politicians in Washington to get its priorities right.

The president has tried to convince us that what he is proposing will be good for America. But how can it be good for America if it raises taxes by half a trillion dollars and costs a trillion dollars more to implement.

Speaker Pelosi and others are handing down their marching orders, telling them to vote for this bill no matter what. Rarely have elected leaders been so intent on defying the public will.

What’s going on is a last, desperate power play. If my colleagues don’t mind some advice from a newcomer, I’d suggest going with the will of the people."

Sen. Brown's comments are right on.

A desperate, arrogant, out of touch, "acting stupidly" Obama is saying, Damn
the people and theri will, we are going to pass the bill whatever the cost!

I don't understand how our Justice Dept. can just stand by and to nothing as the Obama administration buys votes. Bribing a congressperson to get their vote is a crime and underminds our democracy.
===================================
The head of the Justice Department, the attorney general, is appointed by, and works for the president. So don't look to the AG to put principle above politics, and upset the president's quest.
Be that as it may, there is a smoking gun in this reform affair. For back in June of last year, the Obama administration and the Senate Finance chair reached a formal agreement with Big Pharma.
This deal involved the trade-off of industry money for certain favorable policy considerations.
That's why, for example, that the reimportation of safe drugs is not included in the president's plan. This action according to Senate testimony, will cost American consumers an additional $100 billion in higher prescription costs over the next years.
When there's private inurement (enrichment) at public expense, there's trouble, and possible corruption.
Even though the Big Pharma Deal was formally ratified, the Obama administration is refusing to disclose the details.
Clearly it's something that we the public, the one's who will pick up the tab, can't understand.
We will be 'educated' once its true affects are felt.

You had your own way for eight years, and you caused the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression. You lied us into a war, and put it on a Chinese credit card, along with the war in Afghanistan.

Hey winguts, if you got time to lean, you got time to clean. Grab a mop and help Obama and the adults clean up your mess, or stand aside and shut your whining little yappers.

45,000 Americans die every year due to lack of health care, or insufficient health care.
-----------------------------
FYI- The last two of the four years were controlled by a Dummycratic Congress.

If only 45,000 people are dying each year, due to the "lack of health care, or insufficient health care..," this represents about .0147% of the population. Not 10%, not 5%, not 1%, but less than 2/10ths of a percent.

Of these, how many are illegal aliens, people on welfare, who are drawing Medicaid, or those too shiftoless and lazy too work or pay a higher premium for pre-existing conditions?

Sorry Chief. But if people were working, they'd have health insurance as part of their benefits package. As long as King Obonehead keeps us in our economic funk and allows for 109 weeks of unemployment compensation and health benefits, to boot, we're all screwed.

You had your own way for eight years, and you caused the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression. You lied us into a war, and put it on a Chinese credit card, along with the war in Afghanistan.

Hey winguts, if you got time to lean, you got time to clean. Grab a mop and help Obama and the adults clean up your mess, or stand aside and shut your whining little yappers.

45,000 Americans die every year due to lack of health care, or insufficient health care.
-----------------------------
FYI- The last two of the four years were controlled by a Dummycratic Congress.

If only 45,000 people are dying each year, due to the "lack of health care, or insufficient health care..," this represents about .0147% of the population. Not 10%, not 5%, not 1%, but less than 2/10ths of a percent.

Of these, how many are illegal aliens, people on welfare, who are drawing Medicaid, or those too shiftoless and lazy too work or pay a higher premium for pore-exisiting conditions?

Sorry Chief. But if people were working, they'd have health insurance as part of their benefits package. As long as King Obonehead keeps us in our economic funk and allows for 109 weeks of unemployment compensation and health benefits, to boot, we're all screwed.

I think there are some well paid commentators here; these are not the thoughts of the people around me! I do not know anyone that wants this as-is.
Reasonable healthcare reform not a governmental takeover of our very lives.

Pelosi, Reid, and Obama have decided to dismiss the wishes of the majority of the American people and in so doing have seriously divided, angered, destroyed, and changed the cohesive focus and brotherhood of our country. Even without the passage of this horrible bill, we will be paying for their unethical selfish political actions, lies, broken promises and rhetoric in more ways than one for a long, long time to come.

Shamelessly, like thieves in the night, they steal away the future of our children. And I for one, will never forgive them.

When I was young and foolish I had an in ground pool put in...I never sat down and really thought about it I just did it, I figured out real fast what a stupid thing I did the upkeep was very expensive living in the north east it was used very little and every time I wrote out a check for that pool I fumed and fumed...so when you are getting the bill monthly or weekly how ever we the people have to pay for this crap you will just love those dems for years and years and years and years...

Posted by: Immanurse | March 14, 2010 6:43 PM
Hmmmmm. I feel that way now considering the payment for the two unfunded wars, the no bid contracts worth millions, the unfunded Medicare Part D, the unfunded tax cuts that did absolutely nothing for me. I would rather see my tax dollars going to help people in this country rather than fighting wars. I also realize that in the long run, health care reform will be good for this country. And, THAT is exactly why the Republicans are having a meltdown. They too realize that the American people will benefit from and like what will be achieved from passing this bill. Heaven forbid this is not the President's Waterloo. Heaven forbid the American people actually receive some benefits from their tax dollars. Heaven forbid President Obama actually succeeds in achieving his goal of health care for all.

They can't even find buried bodies in Chicago because the graves were recycled and now the new law of the land is coming. Chances are your local GM salesman is a zombie who can't afford a cemetery plot. Gargle with Draino for sore throats.

When I was young and foolish I had an in ground pool put in...I never sat down and really thought about it I just did it, I figured out real fast what a stupid thing I did the upkeep was very expensive living in the north east it was used very little and every time I wrote out a check for that pool I fumed and fumed...so when you are getting the bill monthly or weekly how ever we the people have to pay for this crap you will just love those dems for years and years and years and years...

So here we are. The House leadership can't get the votes from their own party to pass reform, so what's the solution? Change the rules.
The just-devised Slaughter Rule will allow the Senate bill to be moved in the House without a direct vote.
Think about it. Landmark legislation, affecting every American, and it won't get a direct up or down vote in the House.
How cowardly. How corrupt.

I don't understand how our Justice Dept. can just stand by and to nothing as the Obama administration buys votes. Bribing a congressperson to get their vote is a crime and underminds our democracy.

If a prostitute comes over to my car and says, 'hey, honey, wanna date.' And, I say, 'I don't have any money but I promise to pay you next week when I get paid', and that prostitute turns out to be a cop, then she can arrest me.

In my mind, if there is a 'quid pro quo', even if Obama's promise is 'a job if you don't get reelected', it is still bribery, and the two parties involved are criminals.

" 45,000 Americans die every year due to lack of health care, or insufficient health care. "

Posted by: losthorizon10

Unfortunately, many people will needlessly continue to die for these reasons if the Obama/Reid/Pelosi bill is passed. Most reforms will not go into effect until 2014. More than twenty million people are projected to still be uninsured in ten years. These people don't seem to be deemed worthy of health care by the powers that be.
////////////////////////////////////////
1,500,000 Americans die each year from abortion, which this bill would fund. Arguably, if the government would ban abortion and scrap this bill, they would save 1,500,000 lives and $1,800,000,000,000 dollars.

Seems to me this bill is NOT a good idea and will cost lives and dollars in the end.

" 45,000 Americans die every year due to lack of health care, or insufficient health care. "

Posted by: losthorizon10

Unfortunately, many people will needlessly continue to die for these reasons if the Obama/Reid/Pelosi bill is passed. Most reforms will not go into effect until 2014. More than twenty million people are projected to still be uninsured in ten years. These people don't seem to be deemed worthy of health care by the powers that be.

I will not pay not even "one dime" to ANY program that Planned Parenthood or ANY other abortion clinic affiliated business with my money.NONE.You cannot force me.I will sue.Abortion is immoral.It would be a violation of my Constitutional and Civil Rights.Have my 200 Million dollars ready.Be ready for the fight of your life.

Posted by: Imarkex

Why haven't you sued already? Planned Parenthood already gets nearly a third of its funding from the government. You've been paying "dimes" to it all along.

Obama and his democrats still do not get it ! If they try to push thisw horror of a "reform" bill on us we will vote them out of office-end of story!
All reform in this bill has been either eliminated, watered down, or loop-holed to death. Tour premiums will actually go up, your coverage will be reduced, your care rationed. All medical decisions will be made by the government (all decisions final-no appeals allowed), not by your doctors. Medicare will be gutted.
It is your responsibility to know what is really in this terrible bill. PLEASE google "Wha the Pelosi health-care bill really says" or "What's really in Obama's health care reform bill-a plain english translation" and last but not least "little gems from the health care bill".
It will scare you silly and affect your lives in a way you should know about befor it is too late to act.

What's the point of Obama coming to Ohio,
to tell us more emotional stories? Hey,
EVERYONE wants healthcare/insurance reform!
You don't have to convince us!
However, we DON'T WANT OBAMACARE!
There are Better ways to solve these problems other than government takeover.
Democrats are Railroading Americans with this healthcare bill. Americans, please
call your representatives, and tell them
we DON'T WANT GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER.
We want "real" reform.

You had your own way for eight years, and you caused the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression. You lied us into a war, and put it on a Chinese credit card, along with the war in Afghanistan.

Hey winguts, if you got time to lean, you got time to clean. Grab a mop and help Obama and the adults clean up your mess, or stand aside and shut your whining little yappers.

45,000 Americans die every year due to lack of health care, or insufficient health care.

The Congressional Budget Office said Thursday a Senate health care bill would cut the deficit by 118 billion dollars.

Health care reform will be the law of the land by the end of next week: YES WE CAN!

If Republicans get their way (and they are public with this in very subtle ways) Pre existing condition limitations will continue, Health Insurance will not be limited in their profits, Health Insurance companies will be able to kick off of their healthcare anyone they want for any reason, and they will continue to put millions and millions of dollars in their secret off-shore bank accounts.
Republicans next focus will be (and their budget people have already called for this) elimination of medicare, medicaid, social security, federal funding for education, elimination of the FTC, and all other federal regulations except the give aways to their large corporate donors.
I am saying this not as some liberal wacko but someone who just reads the Republican and Conservative requests for funding I get every day. I am an Independent that has voted for both Republicans and Democrats in the past but the Republicans have TOTALLY LEFT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE and in the process they have lost me forever!

It is good to see the Republican leadership, led by the old goat Mitch McConnel, show such concern over the Democrat's mid-term election consequences; should they push through health care reform. If the tea party yokels could pull themselves away from Faux News for a moment and actually do some of their own thinking, they would realize that if this predicted election armageddon for the dem.'s occurs, hey, they'll be back in office with their duly elected ignorant southern drawling leadership! Hey Mitch thanks for your concern... in the meantime, let me suggest, that with some coverage of your own Senate cadillac-plan health care, you could take care of that turkey neck of yours!

What's the point of Obama coming to Ohio,
to tell us more emotional stories? Hey,
EVERYONE wants healthcare/insurance reform!
You don't have to convince us!
However, we DON'T WANT OBAMACARE!
There are Better ways to solve these problems other than government takeover.
Democrats are Railroading Americans with this healthcare bill. Americans, please
call your representatives, and tell them
we DON'T WANT GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER.
We want "real" reform.

We have lost an entire year of focus on jobs and protecting our manufacturing industry and small business - so that an arrogant, failure of a president can focus on his "legacy."

Obama - you can stick your legacy.

Democrats - if you don't get your heads out of your a$$es, your legacy will go down in history as the most corrupt, ignorant sloths in our history.

Obama: "The president very pointedly talked about how important this is historically," said Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., "how he needs our help." Obama told them that "'this is an opportunity, it'll give us momentum'" on other issues, the congressman said.

After which time, Obama will immediately pass "immigration reform" - illegals will then be citizens - and jump by the millions on to our Medicaid and Medicare rolls...the final blow to our bankrupt states. There are approximately 20 million illegals - but the number could go as high as 30 million. In El Paso alone, over a million illegals have fled Juarez - the site of Mexican drug cartel slaughters.

I pray that this is the week American citizens find that they do not have to fear their government forcing its will against them. I pray that this is the week we rediscover that our government still serves its citizens. I pray that this is the week we the people remain unenslaved by our government.

I pray that this is the week American citizens find that they do not have to fear their government forcing its will against them. I pray that this is the week we rediscover that our government still serves its citizens. I pray that this is the week we the people remain unenslaved by our government.

madstamina- Hurry up and pass it, already! I'm so sick of going to the emergency room and waiting 4 hours for a $795 bottle of Motrin. Once it's passed I'll be able to get the Motrin for the $10 it cost instead of a having to pay in $795 in federal tax for an emergency room visit. When I have a real emergency, I won't have to wait 4 hours anymore because all of the people without health care won't be in there anymore!
---------------------------------
I now show "Exhibit A" of why healthcare costs so much. Idiots, like "madstamina" running to the ER for Motrin. I am sorry you're so sick of waiting four hours at ER for your OTC pain reliever.

Gibbs is right, this is the week. The week that they convert no votes to yes votes by any means possible. Obama will have them on speed dial, they'll be Pelosi and Waxman's best friends in the world. If that doesn't work they'll bribe. ("If you don't get re-elected you'll have a better job in Washington.") If that doesn't work they'll threaten. Those classy union officials will come in. MSNBC will start digging through their trash like they're doing with Stupak. Pelosi will threaten ethics violations. We need cameras in the capitol like they have in bad neighborhoods.

Hurry up and pass it, already! I'm so sick of going to the emergency room and waiting 4 hours for a $795 bottle of Motrin. Once it's passed I'll be able to get the Motrin for the $10 it cost instead of a having to pay in $795 in federal tax for an emergency room visit. When I have a real emergency, I won't have to wait 4 hours anymore because all of the people without health care won't be in there anymore!

Hey, the Democrats have become the party of smelly deadbeat and envious have-nots. Instead of demanding accountability from said deadbeats, they resort to handouts of everything from endless unemployment benefits to "free" health care. There is no free. The next round of layoffs after this mess is passed will require more handouts and freebies. And so it will go. That's what socialist dimmokrats will never figure out. Free enterprise creates the opportunities for profit and prosperity, not more handouts and job "creation" for deadbeat, handout-seeking deadbeats. It's ok. November is coming.

But Insurance companies do.
Currently, in many states, only 2 or 3 companies share the bulk of the business.
Health insurance reform will offer MORE CHOICES. Americans like competition

Yeah Americans like competition and the DEMS know this, that is why this is a competition for votes, they couldnt care less about insuring americans...their mission is competitive, aiming to lock down a huge voting block by swearing in millions of illegals immigrants under this so called Healthcare Reform bill and making these illegals citizens will give them a secure voting block for decades, ....an old FDR move...who do you think you are fooling, ...this is about votes not the people. VOTES, nothing but votes. Taxes will go through the roof! Small minority and black business owners will faulter and go bankrupt because of the high taxes....it will take three months to see a doctor if you break your leg....read the Canadian disaster stories...it's horrible. Yet when one Congressman offered up the strong possibility of entering us under a Healthcare Plan WE THE PEOPLE already pay for ....Nancy Pelosi scoffed at it, so did Ried and Obama! Why because it is the same Healthcare Plan they enjoy, the Congressional Healthcare Plan our taxes pay for...a one page document could put every american under it but ole Nancy does want you commonfolks going to the same Doc she uses neither does Harry. Harry may change his mind because of the recent medical attention his family had to incur may be a wakeup call for Harry....he is a good God fearing man, follow the right path, think this over and do it right. Scrap the bill and start all over. That is the signal that was sent to Harry.

Not if I don't get the same exemption as the Amish.I will not pay not even "one dime" to ANY program that Planned Parenthood or ANY other abortion clinic affiliated business with my money.NONE.You cannot force me.I will sue.Abortion is immoral.It would be a violation of my Constitutional and Civil Rights.Have my 200 Million dollars ready.Be ready for the fight of your life.

Yes Yes Mr. Gibbs also has the Mark of The Beast on His Forehead and His Hand. Mr. Gibbs is another Demonic Agent of the Demonic Figure Obama. The mark of the beast on your forehead is when you accept the Anti-Christ through blind faith. The mark of the beast on your hand is when you accept the Anti-Christ through gifts. People Obama is the Anti-Christ that you have all read about. You have been warned.

Yes Yes Mr. Gibbs also has the Mark of The Beast on His Forehead and His Hand. Mr. Gibbs is another Demonic Agent of the Demonic Figure Obama. The mark of the beast on your forehead is when you accept the Anti-Christ through blind faith. The mark of the beast on your hand is when you accept the Anti-Christ through gifts. People Obama is the Anti-Christ that you have all read about. You have been warned.

Posted by: ApostasyUSA: "Everything the GOP said they wanted is in the bill. Tort Reform is in the bill. Pooling insured for cheaper prices is in the bill. Buying insurance across state lines is in the bill. And the big government takeover is a LIE. The bill does not have the public option."
========

The only thing accurate in your comment is the PO is out.

There is no Tort Reform in the Democrat Bill.

Insurance Exchanges are NOT Insurance Pools. The Exchanges are a tax-subsidized perk for the insurance industry. Yes, small businesses and individuals can buy insurance at a lower premium .... UP FRONT ... but the remainder of the premium is paid on the back side with higher taxes and rationed care. The Insurance Industry premiums are NOT reduced, they are paid from two separate sources.

The Democrat bill does NOT allow small businesses and individuals to buy from other states with more favorable rates and coverage. Insurance policies may only be purchased in the state where the business records reside and the individual lives.

It's expected that Democrats would try to play these games - pretending they have a clue what is in the bill

Nancy Pelosi confirmed your confusion when she said, "we have to pass this bill so we can figure out what's in it."

Many of the very members of the House who will be voting for this bill haven't a clue what's in it either, so you and Nancy aren't the only ones who are confused.

Posted by: ApostasyUSA: "Everything the GOP said they wanted is in the bill. Tort Reform is in the bill. Pooling insured for cheaper prices is in the bill. Buying insurance across state lines is in the bill. And the big government takeover is a LIE. The bill does not have the public option."
========

The only thing accurate in your comment is the PO is out.

There is no Tort Reform in the Democrat Bill.

Insurance Exchanges are NOT Insurance Pools. The Exchanges are a tax-subsidized perk for the insurance industry. Yes, small businesses and individuals can buy insurance at a lower premium .... UP FRONT ... but the remainder of the premium is paid on the back side with higher taxes and rationed care. The Insurance Industry premiums are NOT reduced, they are paid from two separate sources.

The Democrat bill does NOT allow small businesses and individuals to buy from other states with more favorable rates and coverage. Insurance policies may only be purchased in the state where the business records reside and the individual lives.

It's expected that Democrats would try to play these games - pretending they have a clue what is in the bill

Nancy Pelosi confirmed your confusion when she said, "we have to pass this bill so we can figure out what's in it."

Many of the very members of the House who will be voting for this bill haven't a clue what's in it either, so you and Nancy aren't the only ones who are confused.

If it's about "regulating abuses by for-profit companies", why is it going to cost us $1 trillion over 10 years? Of course it's socialism. We have socialims now (e.g. social security). It's just a lot more.

Vote in representatives that will CUT government! The Federal government is too big, too powerful, and needs to go!

Out with Obama!

No to healthcare.

Americans for a smaller government join in and let them hear our voice.

__________________________________________

Well at least we can agree that John is far away from reality and sanity and we should put him in an institution far away from the real world.

While you're at it John, let's do away with Medicare, air traffic control, highways and bridges, our ports, the army, the FBI, the CIA, NASA, pensions and health care for Vets, trash collection, city streets, public schools, building codes that keep buildings from collapsing in earthquakes etc -- all those evils of Big Government!! Let's all hunt wild game on main street and go back to the woods and live on berries! Go back in the hole you crawled out of.

The Republicans in lockstep, lie, cheat and generally ignore the Americans needing health care. We gave Trillions to a war that didnt have to exist, killed them, killed us, and still they defend it. This is America, and this needs to get done. I detest the indifference, and ignorance of your party
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>yeah yeah yeah, nobody is ignoring Americans needing healthcare, if that were so you would see the millions of americans needing healthcare marching in the streets for months protesting the GOP stance against it but NOOOO you only see Hollywood folks trying to rally support for it as if LATE with a few thousand here and there. You argument has no proof or substance that Americans really needing healthcare our out in droves supporting your allegation.

You Elitists always detest those who disagree with you, whether right or wrong. You love pin the Ignorant label on anyone you can to state that your intellectual idaeals are best because what, You attended Harvard, Yale...hey the most successful Harvard guy was a dropout...Gates...anyway back to your other lackless statements....

Yes, this is America and America doesnt tell or force people to make decisions on what type of healthcare they want for themselves. THat is our choice not the GOVERNMENT's choice. Next they will be telling us what to eat and drink.

The indifference and ignorance we have here is we are the United States of America, with 50 states, this Healthcare initiative should be done on a State level not on a Federal Level,,...almost a dictatorship, if you support and like that, ....Move to China, Russia or Cuba,....you will feel at home.

No, it doesn't. It denies more CLAIMS, due to more faulty reporting by doctors and hospitals (just check out the denial codes). That's what Medicare reform is about. It actually denies about the same number of procedures as private industry.

But given the "minor" detail that private insurance industry can and does simply drop the highest risk people from their policies, it's actually private industry that is denying more care.

He talks about how the health care business model needs to be fixed before we work on passing a bill that will insure everyone. If we don't do the fix first and pass the insurance bill anyway, it will bankrupt the United States.

So democratic leaders are making the rounds saying that while they still don't have the votes, reform will certainly pass this week.
How can they be so confident? Easy, because there won't be a vote. Instead, House dems will use what's being called the Slaughter Rule (named for the chair of the House Rules Committee) to just vote for the reconciliation fixes, with the underlying assumption being that the Senate bill stands passed.
Think of it: For the first time In U.S. history a landmark bill will pass not only without a single vote from the minority party, but also without a recorded vote in the House.
By doing so, House dems will have escalated their tactics from trickery to treachery. And the American people will not stand for it.

What is, and has been, missing from rational discussions on this is whether the "reform" will actually do the best job for the United States of America. The argument has devolved into passing this law simply as an end in itself. One side wants the law passed so they can say "we did SOMEthing", while the other side wants to stop it because it will supposedly make the other guys look bad. Some people just want to get it all over with and "move forward", as if just passing a boondoggle, wasteful, useless law, is preferable to making sure that it is done right.

I am beginning to see the root reasons for Churchill's observation that American's can always be trusted to do the right thing, but only after they've tried every other possible way.

"Quality health care and quality education should be a right for all, not just the select few"

It ain't a "select few". The number thrown about is 30 million uninsured. Many have said that number is way too high. But lets use 30 million. That is 10 percent of the population. So, the "select few" that you refer to are in actuality, 90 percent of our citizens who are insured. How about we figure out how to help out the 10 percent without dismembering our entire healthcare system and handing it over to a bunch of completely inept politicians? How about that?

Let's get this passed and move forward. Businesses are struggling because of the exorbitant increases in our health care. Quality health care and quality education should be a right for all, not just the select few. This bill might not be perfect, but at least it's heading us in the right direction!

"The insurance industry will still intervene between patients and their physicians. The insurance industry will continue to ration health care.
"

I got news for you. Medicare refuses far more procedures than the private insurance industry. Increased government will result in increased refusals for health services. And by the way, the "evil" insurance industry has an enormous return of 3% in profit.

That you would elect a representative, send them to the White House, and then have them blindly and sheep-like do whatever a green, ill-prepared, failure of a liberal, American-hating president told them to do is unthinkable.

You don't want this horrendous bill - yet your representative will deliberately throw your vote back in your face...telling you that you don't know what is best for you - and that they do what THEY want, once in office.

You need to teach them how to represent and make believers out of them. Give them one chance to toe the line as your representative - then vote for someone with less of an ego and more respect for their constituents.

Call your representative and senator and tell them to vote this fiasco down. Then become active in removing them and replacing him or her with someone worthy if they continue with their self-destructive course.

The Senate version already passed the Senate, with well over 50% of the vote. The House version passed as well and will now vote on the Senate version. It's likely to pass.

My only complain is that the bill still leaves the for-profit insurance industry in charge. The insurance industry will still intervene between patients and their physicians. The insurance industry will continue to ration health care.

But there will be some important regulations on the industry, which is fighting like heck to see that it doesn't happen. People with pre-existing conditions will no longer be turned away. And people who are now outside the system (but using it for free (for them) when they need it) will be brought into it.

I don't think something as important as health care, something everyone needs, should be unregulated. I am not sure why Republicans want it to be, but, well, they appear to approve of the current set-up.

The bill is likely to become law soon. Over time, when it's clear that the "government takeover" line was patently untrue, it will come back to hurt those who opposed the bill. It's likely the GOP will make gains in November, mainly because the effects of the new law will not yet be obvious. But over time, its popularity is certain to grow, just as that of Medicare (an actual government-run system) did.

Good. We'll benefit from the new law. I'll meet people back on a forum such as this in, say, 5 years, and we can discuss just who was right about this and who was wrong.

"Why would I want to vote for a party that has been so vocal about wanting the duly elected President of the United States to fail? "

Umm, I'm just guessing but one reason might be because our Presidents POLICIES are off the chart, insane.

Before he took his oath our country was ALREADY bankrupt. Obama's agenda will bankrupt our grandchildren's grandchildren. He can promise you government provided this and government provided that but the money ain't there. Its that simple.

Even as a House Democratic leader admitted that Democrats are still lacking votes, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs proclaimed Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation" that "this is the week" that the House will pass the Senate's health-care reform bill and send it to President Obama's desk for his signature.
-----------------------------------

More politicians who do not listen to their constituents.

Our Representatives earn $174k per year. A bit over-paid right now for what they do.

The White House and Congressional leaders are putting up a strong front this past week that passage is inevitable, but Clyburn let loose a dose of reality. Democrats don't have the votes yet, and this show of positive certainty about passage is entirely about convincing wayward Democrats to vote along the party line.

The real problem is that the original Senate bill is an ugly mess. House Democrats will be voting for the Cornhusker kickback, for the low thresholds on the excise tax, for the union tax exemption, and for everything else reviled in that bill, and they have no guarantee of getting the amendments they want in reconciliation. After passage, the Senate could simply decline to pass any amendments, or they could offer fewer than promised, or the parliamentarian could rule that various provisions cannot be included under reconciliation. Not only are House Democrats taking a huge risk in passing a bill that is increasingly unpopular with voters, but they are placing a lot of faith in the Senate to push through the revisions that make the bill slightly less revolting.

How many House Democrats want to walk into the midterm elections to face charges that they voted for the Cornhusker kickback?

"We believe health-care reform is going to pass," Gibbs said. "Once it passes we're happy to have the 2010 election be about the achievement of health care-reform.

So Gibbs is thinking that he will be able to point to achievements as early as 2010? It would be nice if that were true for then he could have the government pick up the tab for his much needed "mental health" visits.

Sammy is going to take your money for 4 years before any "achievements" will be doled out. In 2010 people will be saying, "Hey you've been taxing me for a year, where are my bennies? " To which
Mr. GIbbs can reply, "Hold on. You gotta pay in for three more years." Now there is a dialog I can't wait to hear unfold while the peasants are erecting the guillotines on the Capitol Mall.

Meanwhile, what are Republicans doing for the American people? Boehner was all over television today saying how he can find nothing they can agree on to help move the country forward. I find that very hard to understand especially after seeing the damage of eight years of Republican policies have had on our country. Does he really think our country was in such great shape when handed over to President Obama? Boehner and Republicans seems to be in denial that the American people rejected them and their policies. They rejected them because they were pitiful stewards of our country when they did have power.

So, What exactly are Republicans doing to help this country move forward? Why would I , an American citizen vote for Republicans? What plans do the Republicans have besides the same policies we followed for eight years that damaged our country so badly? Why would I want to vote for a party that has been so vocal about wanting the duly elected President of the United States to fail? Why would I want people in power who resort to fear, scare and smear tactics to control the American people? Why would I want someone in power who has made it perfectly clear that they have no intentions on compromising with the current President?

Republicans are doing absolutely nothing for the American people, what would make me think they will do anything if they regain power? Republicans were in power for eight years during which time their policies did not benefit anyone I know of, why would/should I give them another chance? I mean especially since the current administration is still trying to repair the damage of eight years of Bush/Republican policies.

nvamikeyo wrote: "...@ georges2: When historians someday comb through the online archives of major newspapers, popular blogs and other new media and come across irrational, exaggerated rants and blatherings like these they'll understand how silly, uneducated and reactionary the opposition was." I can only say you take hypocricy to new heights (or is it lows). The NeoCommie loons have pilloried anyone who has the gumption to dis-agree with the Liberal dogma and have done it in ways that emabarrass lifelong Democrats such as myself. It's time to take our party back to a semblence of reason and sanity. If you would, nvamikeyo, please start a new party or join the Communists, but go..please.

Obama's coming to Ohio this week to tell more emotional stories... as if he has to
convince us we need healthcare reform ?!
Obama, we're past that, everyone from every part agrees we need reform.
WE DON'T WANT OBAMACARE. WE DON'T WANT GOVERNMENET TAKEOVER OF HEALTHCARE (17% OF OUR GDP!
There is nothing fiscally-responsible about
government-run anything. Government is a bureaucracy. Look at Madoff scandal. An individual tried to tell the SEC about Madoff for 10 YEARS before it happened!
That's government for you.
Ohioans need to tell Obama to START OVER
and give us REAL REFORM that will reduce
costs and reduce our premiums.

Can't imagine that Gibbs, Axelrod and Pelosi would be going around proclaiming that they have the votes if they don't. If I were a Democratic Congressman from a red state, though, I'd conclude that there's no need for my yes vote on the bill if they've already got it sewn up.

Obama, Pelosi and Reid have the Democratic Party on the road to destruction...the bill will fail because these three stooges can simply will not find enough Democrats in the House willing to commit political suicide to pass it...but the damage to the party can not be undone.

Put Howard Dean back in charge at DNC. Dean is crazy, but at least he can keep the two-party system alive.

Gibbs is a typical, fat, jerk from the South who cracks dumb jokes during the White House briefings, when most Americans are just not in the mood for such joviality, at all. He rarely gives straight answers to serious questions, despite the promise by the Obama Adminstration to be transparent. He is certainly no asset to Obama, especially when his popularity is rapidly waning, due to his unwillingness to be firm and push ahead with his original campaign promises to make the drastic changes without too many compromises with the Party of No.

It is unbelievable that people would cheer that they are going to pay taxes for 10 years so they can receive less than 7 years of benefits. What happens in the 11th year? How do we pay for it?

All one has to do is look at Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Education, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Post Office to see where this is heading. Additionally, is it not interesting that Medicare denies more claims than any insurance company, but that does not matter to the power mongers who want to control us and the parasites who are just looking for a handout.

This bill is the first step in the government completely taking over our personal choices in health care. There is no denying that we need health care reform, but is this the best we can do? Why the rush to slam this through when the benefits do not start for years? This is more about power and control than what is right for America.

I know this nation is capable of a much better solution, but it will never happen with the idealogues that our controlling our government. This health care reform is not about us, it is about them and unfortunately, in the end, we all lose, especially our children.

One week of public hearings should be held to educate the President, legislators, and voters, as to how a Public Option using Veterans Health Care successes could save lives and a $trillion annually, for health care reform, by using a dual choice Private or Public Option plan.

Only a Free Public Option, run by the government, which eliminates insurance companies and uses sales taxes to pay for care which would then be delivered free from government hospitals, can produce these drastic cost savings.

No government funding should be paid to private systems.

Public Option users would never have to pay another insurance premium, medical service co pay fee, or any prescription costs and everyone who wants it could have it no restrictions.

Medicare and Medicaid could easily be salvaged without bankrupting the federal government by using this Public Option system to deliver all care and medications to all recipients totally free and at a fraction of government’s current costs now devoured by private systems.

If all federal, state, and local government employees were switched to Public Option care along with indigent and all other care programs all their costs would be cut in half.

Between 1995 and 2004, the cumulative increase in the VA’s cost per enrollee was just 0.8 percent, while Medicare was a whopping 40.4 percent.

This will only makes us more determined to rid DC of the parasitic scum. A massive coounter revolution is on the way - tyranny and collectivism won't stand. In 1907, all Gov't (Fed, State, local) confiscated 7% of our income, now it's 47% and rising. What do we get for it: pothole laden highways, massive unsustainable debt, Security by Big Sis, Healthcare, Welfare, Jobs & plush Prison cells for Illegal Aliens (already in 1/3rd of cells in insolvent CA), civilian defense attorneys for terrorists (& prosecutors for Navy Seals), propaganda-laden education, never ending goodies for the Dem faithful. How much crap are we supposed to take- will it take for liberals to wake up: $6/gallon gas, paying the mortgage of 'the less fortunate', your children as indentured servants, our sovereignty and guns turned over to the UN, loss of religous freedom? Exactly what are you liberals expecting when you trade temporary comfort for freedom & solvency?
"The ideal tyranny is that which is ignorantly self-administered
by its victims. The most perfect slaves are, therefore, those
which blissfully and unawaredly enslave themselves."
-- Dresden James
"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for
the urge to rule."
-- H.L. Mencken
"Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms [of
government] those entrusted with power have, in time, and by
slow operations, perverted it into tyranny."
-- Thomas Jefferson,
"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of
truth."
-- Albert Einstein
"The welfare of the people in particular has always been the
alibi of tyrants."
-- Albert Camus
"Taxation follows public debt, and in its train wretchedness and
oppression."
-- Thomas Jefferson
"We the People are the rightful masters of both congress and
the courts -- not to overthrow the Constitution, but to
overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution."
-- Abraham Lincoln
"The penalty good men suffer for not getting involved in public
affairs is being ruled by evil men."
-- Plato
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight
you, then you win."
-- Mahatma Gandhi
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for
lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!"
-- Benjamin Franklin

There are more Democratic backroom deals going on now! The Dems do NOT have the votes now, so guess what - they will be jandng out bribes to push this thing through against the will of the American public....much like Hugo Chavez would do. They will pay dearly for ignoring the voters, just as they did in Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts, by they seem hell-bent on pushing Obama's socialist agenda in the near term....even as they know it is poitical suicide.

It's really shameful that Republicans can't do anything but call names and tell lies. I've got a suggestion: why don't you people quit writing comments that can only serve to convince people that your party consists of people too stupid to govern?

Why don't you stop accepting any Federal benefits? That means don't drive on highways. Don't fly; air traffic control is federal. Don't buy food that's been inspected. Don't take prescription meds--or any other kind that you can buy legally; once again, the Federal government sees that they're tested. Don't use anything that has to be weighed or measured; the standards for weight and measurement are maintained by the federal government.

If you aren't ready to do that, maybe you'll just leave the United States and wander the earth looking for a place where people who are as vile, selfish, and mean-spirited as you are welcome. Your fifteen minutes are up.

Anyone who is for this bill has no clue what is in the bill. They would follow the goat all the way to slaughter. Are you that shallow or uneducated to follow by the word of a leader who has stood up before the American people a bold faced lied? You do not know yet what is in the bill. It changes daily. I have not seen anything in the previous bills to warrant my support. This is not a bill concerned with cost reform. This bill sets up this maize of new government agencies we all know will be a cesspool of waste. Obama and his cronies could care less if you and I fell of the curb. This bill of the day will make us pay more for less, deliver more federal control, and remove your personal liberties. And you will follow like little lambs to slaughter? Are you that helpless and naive to belief this garbage? Pitiful.
And Gibbs is saying it will pass. Well I guess these corrupt people have the bribes and deals all lined up. These are incredibly evil men.

Oh God how funny so the Communist from Kenya Dictator Barack Hussein Obama has to
send his very own version of Saddam Hussein
Baghdad Bob Gibbs out and have Fibber Gibbs
claim the Democrat Controlled Congress is
going to pass Obamacare next week does he?
BS here Comrade Leader Obama it will,as your dimwit dummercrat Communist Camp Follower Kool Aid Drinkers Still DONOT
Have The Votes To Do It Liar Obama and Liar
Baghdad Bob Gibbs! Its The Lack Of Jobs
Here Stupid Not Obamacare the Voters Want
Action On You Delusional Retarded Little
Josef Stalin and Adolf Hitler Combined Worst Loser In US History Obama...The 3-14
Rasmusssen Poll Shows 42% Strongly Disapprove of Obama's Job Performance and
Just 27% Strongly Approve and 53% OPPOSE
OBAMACARE! And Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a
64% Unfavorable Rating and Harry Reid has
36% Unfavorable One! Pass Obamacare and the
Democrats Will Face The WORST DEFEAT In US
Political History on Election Days 2010 &
2012! Kill Obamacare Here & Now Stupid!...
Obama = Liar! Baghdad Bob Gibbs = Liar!
Vote All Democrats Out Of Office !

Everything the GOP said they wanted is in the bill. Tort Reform is in the bill. Pooling insured for cheaper prices is in the bill. Buying insurance across state lines is in the bill. And the big government takeover is a LIE. The bill does not have the public option.

Obama has to fight the payola campaigns of an industry that rivals the military industrial complex.

Funny thing is, I don't hear any Republicans advocating for the complete shutdown of the social services that help our elderly survive. It's all lip service you hear from so called conservatives these days. Not because they are cowards but because they know they are wrong.

How many so called conservative stand up in the public eye and denounce the Medicare and social security systems? One? None? Certainly not a majority of them if any at all.

Soon I’ll get to add Healthcare Reform to the list of accomplishments of the Democratic Congress. I think it is great to have Democrats in Congress and a Democratic President who actually care about doing the work of the American people. Thank you all.

The Republicans of today on the other hand, have made themselves totally irrelevant. Gibbs is right: "Once it passes we're happy to have the 2010 election be about the achievement of health care-reform. That's obviously a debate we're comfortable having."

That you would elect a representative, send them to the White House, and then have them blindly and sheep-like do whatever a green, ill-prepared, failure of a liberal, American-hating president told them to do is unthinkable.

You don't want this horrendous bill - yet your representative will deliberately throw your vote back in your face...telling you that you don't know what is best for you - and that they do what THEY want, once in office.

You need to teach them how to represent and make believers out of them. Give them one chance to toe the line as your representative - then vote for someone with less of an ego and more respect for their constituents.

Call your representative and senator and tell them to vote this fiasco down. Then become active in removing them and replacing him or her with someone worthy if they continue with their self-destructive course.

The corrupt practices of the other party do not justify the continuation of your own party's corrupt misconduct. Unfortunately, that self-serving rationale is the heart of most who choose to ignore the fact that this health care legislation is opposed by most Americans, and will add at least $500-billion a year to the already unsustainable deficit spending our elected officials use to perpetuate themselves in office. Opposing health care is not an argument in favor of the Republican's corrupt economic theories (ie: trickle down economics), but continuing to assert the equally corrupt philosophy of "wage and benefits entitlement", which is the foundation of the Democratic party dogma, simply accelerates the death spiral of free-enterprise which is suffocating our economy.

The Democrats can force this legislation into law, but they cannot and will not escape it's malignant consequences. Until every American faces the fact that we are a country out of control, living beyond our means while indulging in a shared delusion of prosperity, we will have no chance of repairing our economy, and recovering the prospect of a sustainable future.

The Post: ""We believe health-care reform is going to pass," Gibbs said. "Once it passes we're happy to have the 2010 election be about the achievement of health care-reform. That's obviously a debate we're comfortable having."

@ georges2: When historians someday comb through the online archives of major newspapers, popular blogs and other new media and come across irrational, exaggerated rants and blatherings like these they'll understand how silly, uneducated and reactionary the opposition was.

"Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), also appearing on "Face the Nation," called the Democratic plan to pass health-care reform through budget reconciliation "the most brazen act of political arrogance that I can remember since the Watergate era." He pledged that Republican senators will "certainly offer a large number of amendments" and "go sentence by sentence through this 3,000-page bill to make sure rules are followed" during the reconciliation process."

Dear Lamar - Only the FIXES to a by then passed Senate bill will be included in the reconciliation measure. You need to drop the 3000 page scare tactic GOP talking point.

The Republicans in lockstep, lie, cheat and generally ignore the Americans needing health care. We gave Trillions to a war that didnt have to exist, killed them, killed us, and still they defend it. This is America, and this needs to get done. I detest the indifference, and ignorance of your party.

The Republicans in lockstep, lie, cheat and generally ignore the Americans needing health care. We gave Trillions to a war that didnt have to exist, killed them, killed us, and still they defend it. This is America, and this needs to get done. I detest the indifference, and ignorance of your party.

Gibbs is correct. This is the week in which Democrats who vote for this so-called healthcare legislation will be put on notice that they have committed a terrorist act against the people of the United States and will be put on trial. You think this is a fantasy? States are already lining up to make sure it happens. The people of this country are tired of being dictated to by Washington. They're tired of having their lives in the hands of people like Pelosi and Reid. They're tired of Obama's COMMUNIST/SOCIALIST agenda! It will happen.